Bats Score 20 Runs Again, Blow Out I-Cubs 20-3

The Bats' offense resumed dominance from Wednesday night with a second-consecutive 20-run performance in a decisive victory on Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

Just hours removed from hitting for the cycle and driving in seven runs, Hector Rodriguez continued his offensive tear with a two-run homer to straight-away center field. His 13^th big fly of the season gave the Bats a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Louisville starter Julian Aguiar threw three scoreless frames before the Cubs finally broke through in the fourth. A leadoff walk came around to score when Kevin Alcantara hit a ground-rule double, which tightened the deficit to 2-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Louisville took advantage of a golden opportunity. Michael Toglia and Michael Chavis hit consecutive singles, and each moved up 90 feet with Austin Hendrick's sac-fly. That set up Will Banfield, who crushed a ball 108.4 off the bat, which singled home both runners to give the Bats a 4-1 lead.

Aguilar bounced back and threw a perfect 11-pitch fifth inning with two strikeouts. In Louisville’s half of the fifth, two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Chavis, who hit a first-pitch sweeper into the left-center field LG&E Power Alley for a grand slam. His homer busted the game wide open and gave the Bats an 8-1 lead.

Hagan Danner entered in relief in the sixth, which ended Aguiar’s outstanding outing. He allowed just one run on three hits, walked one, and struck out six over five innings of work.

Drama ensued immediately following Aguilar’s exit as Danner allowed the first two batters to reach via singles. He struck out Owen Miller and Alcantara, but then hit James Triantos to load the bases for Chas McCormick, who struck out to end the threat.

Anthony Misiewicz entered in the seventh and got roughed up quickly. He allowed a single, then a two-run homer to Scott Kingery, which inched the Cubs closer to an 8-3 score. Toglia responded with a moonshot, crushed 111 MPH, and 421 feet for a solo homer. His team-leading 16^th home run of the season increased the Bats' lead to 9-3.

Trevor Kuncl pitched a scoreless eighth before Louisville’s offense got back to work in a big way.

Cubs’ reliever Zac Leigh completely fell apart and lost his command as the Bats posted an 11-run inning, their largest inning of the season. Louisville’s first nine batters reached base and eventually scored as the Bats put the game far out of reach.

Leigh allowed four hits and walked four before he was removed in favor of backup catcher Casey Optiz. Leigh threw just 10 of his 29 pitches for strikes and failed to record an out in the eighth inning. Optiz, who has just 24 at-bats this season, was called upon for the second consecutive evening to simply throw strikes, and succeeded.

His fastest pitch was just 42.7 mph, but he threw seven of his 10 pitches for strikes. Optiz allowed three runs on four hits but recorded the three outs required to end the inning. Garrett Hampson, TJ Friedl, and Toglia each doubled while Rodriguez hit his second homer of the game to highlight the eight-hit inning. Louisville ended the eighth with a 20-3 lead.

Luis Mey entered and threw a dangerous, yet scoreless, ninth inning to secure the win.

The Bats are the first minor league team to score 20+ runs in two consecutive games since at least 2005. The feat has been accomplished just twice at the Major League level, but not since Boston in 1950. Chavis’ grand slam was his first since April 10, 2022, as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rodriguez has multiple hits in three of his last four games and 12 RBI over his last two games.

Louisville will face Iowa again on Friday at 7:15 p.m. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will be on the call on Sports Talk 790.